Working with Industry

Industry Related Offices at the UW

University investigators enter into many types of research relationships with industry. These relationships are governed by agreements made between the university and the company. Agreements are legal contracts that define each party's rights and obligations in the relationship.

The UW offers our collaborators research expertise, licensing opportunities, access to facilities and more. We are committed to fostering mutually beneficial relationships with our partners in business and industry. Read more.

Guidance for Industry Projects

Industry Sponsored Research Agreements cover research of mutual interest to a UW investigator and a company, and which the sponsoring company funds, in whole or in part.

SBIRs and STTRs

The federal government mandates that many federal agencies must commit certain percentages of their funding to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program.

SBIR/STTR grants often involve subcontracts to universities to conduct a portion of the research. SBIR/STTR subcontracts are established according to procedures and guidelines very similar to those for industry-sponsored research.

Important Facts about SBIR and STTR Programs

Eligibility is determined at time of award

No appendices allowed in Phase I

The PI is not required to have a Ph.D.

The PI is required to have expertise to oversee project scientifically and technically

Applications may be submitted to different agencies for similar work

Awards may not be accepted from different agencies for duplicative projects

While SBIR encourages research institution partners, STTR requires them